With the July 1 moving day mere months away, the Quebec government has announced an additional $7.8 million to help housing offices and municipalities support households in need.
At a news conference Tuesday, France-Élaine Duranceau, Quebec’s minister responsible for housing, says with a low vacancy rate across the province, this year might be “worse or more complicated.”
“Our goal is clear: For everyone who reaches out to have a roof over their heads,” said Duranceau.
“We’re there to help.”
She says more than 5,000 households have already asked for help since January.
The additional $7.8 million will help meet the urgent needs of households who don’t have a place to stay by setting up services d’aide à la recherche de logement (SARL), housing search assistance centres.
Around 40 SARLs are already in operation across Quebec.
This year, not only will additional funds help reimburse certain costs relating to temporary accommodation but it will enable SARLs to benefit from experts specializing in psychological support, says Duranceau.
‘We’re expecting a tough July 1’: Manager of housing office
She also announced flexibility in Quebec’s housing supplement program, Programme de supplément au loyer Québec (PSLQ).
PSLQ enables low-income households who apply through their housing office to live in private housing while paying rent similar to that of a low-rent home, or rent that is 25 per cent of their income.
This program will be made more flexible to enable housing offices to accelerate the allocation of subsidized housing to households on the wait-list.
The City of Montreal has intervened in 460 homeless encampments in the past year. And with warm weather on the way, front-line workers are expecting to see more.
“We welcome this morning’s announcement,” said Dany Caron, the general manager of Quebec City’s housing office.
“We’re expecting a tough July 1.”
He says his organization is preparing for the difficult year and that it’s crucial people get started early in looking for new accommodation.
Duranceau also highlighted the importance of people reaching out for support.
The Société d’habitation du Québec (SHQ) customer relations centre has extended their opening hours to better serve residents looking for housing and will be open seven days a week from June 15 to July 14, with the exception of June 24.